razlev

Hi,
My wife and I plan to spend 12 days in the South of France / North of Spain. We are not sure whether to stay in Provence only or if driving all the way up to San Sebastian and spending a couple of days in the Spanish Pyrenees is a good idea. We don't mind some driving so that's not a problem but we dont want to spread all over the place and try and get too much done.
Any thoughts (and concrete tips as well) would be great. Thanks.

ira

Hi r,

It's a full day's drive from Aix-en-provence to San Sebastian.

If you fly into Marseille and out of Bilbao you can split the trip.

vespacurves

Don't know when you are going, which could make a big difference. The window for travel is not huge in the high Pyrenees.

If it is dramatic scenery you are looking for, how about Ecrins national park in France?

http://www.provence-hideaway.com/ecr...vel-guide.html

Again, you should only go if you know the weather is nice there before heading out.

Michael

Check on the geography. The Provence is not on the other side of the Pyrenees; it's the Languedoc and Aquitaine. The Provence is the areas around the Rhone delta and then stretches out eastward.

razlev

thanks! I had the regions a little mixed up. I'll add some info... we are starting at Marseilles on Sep 20 and finishing at the same place on the Oct. 3.
In between we pause for a day and a half (25-26) in which we will not be travelling (but we are flexible in terms of where this will happen).
the two options we are considering: travel in Provence and maybe a little east/ north around it (including Ecrins national park which looks really good), taking things pretty easy and staying 2-3 nights in every spot OR head towards San Sebastian and focus the trip on the Pyrenees and the French / Spanish boarder.

Will 12 days (net) be enough to take off from Marseilles, go through the Pyrenees and back to Marseilles? and also spend 2-3 days in Provence? or is it too much?

It looks like this time of year is OK for the Pyrenees but I would appreciate if someone that knows can confirm this.

thanks again, Raz.

vespacurves

You can use a Google maps or Michelin to tell you how much time you will be spending on the road and whether you like to travel at that pace.

It is hard to answer your question without knowing why you are even considering such an unusual itinerary. San Sebastian has a beautiful beach, but there is never any guarantee it is not going to be rainy when you get there. There are also beautiful beaches closer to Marseilles.

Again, the peaks of the Ecrins will offer you breathtaking scenery and lovely hikes if that is what you are after. It would mean a much shorter drive and more flexibility in working with the weather forecasts. You can shoot up there on short notice, or find something else to do in Provence if the weather is lousy. It is harder to have that if you target the Pyrenees.

If the reason you want San Sebastian is food, then there is no substitute for that. But then I would just go to San Sebastian and the rest of Basque Country. Or loop up through Bordeaux as well. Skip the Pyrenees. It will just slow you down.

Michael

If mountains are what interest you, consider the Parc National des Pyrénées, which would save you time as it is between Marseille and San Sebastian.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4526262889/

razlev

Thanks, this is extremely helpful.